Lebanon´s Next War: Al-Qa´ida vs. Hizbollah?

Why is Lebanese Shiite movement Hizbollah helping a radical Salafi extremist preacher sentenced to life in prison? What is the reason for a al-Qaida admiring, former anti-Shiite cleric Omar Bakri Muhammad to call to “bring Sunnis and Shiites together on certain issues”? In Lebanon the fear of a civil war, driven by al-Qaida´s Anti-Shiism agenda, is rising. Hizbollah observes an increase in hostile propaganda and activities within Lebanon´s Sunni community.

Salafi leaders accuse Hizbollah of threatening the change the face of the country, of acting arrogant and seeing Sunnis as an obstacle to execute their Iranian supported program. On a political level, Hizbollah´s power is seen as a danger to the security of Lebanese Sunnis. Several hardline factions such as the terrorist group “Abdullah al-Azzam Brigade” are working to steer up hatred and violence between the two Muslim sects. An hour-long Anti-Shiite propaganda video was produced, titled “The Oppressed Sect” (meaning the Sunnis in Lebanon).

As TIME Magazine reports in “Hizballah Fears ‘Qaeda’ Type Attacks from Lebanese Sunnis”, Lebanon waits for a event to trigger a civil war situation between militant al-Qaida inspired Sunni groups and Hizbollah-backed Shiite community.